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Ready for a brand new month and a brand new series? The team finished the month of April with a 17-14 record, and now thankfully the A’s don’t have to go anywhere as they swap out their opponents from the Royals to the Guardians, their second straight AL Central to visit Sacramento. Old friend Stephen Vogt has lead his squad to an even 16-16 record, which is good enough for a tie in their division. Should be a competitive series between two teams in first place. Three games this weekend, let’s go for the win.

Kicking things off for the good guys tonight will be right-hander J.T. Ginn. Since joining the rotation the 26-year-old has done nothing but impress as he’s solidified the backend of the rotation. In four starts this year Ginn has a 2.50 ERA. The strikeouts (15) could be higher but he’s also not hurting himself with free passes (7). He’ll hope to keep up his hot streak this evening against a Guardians lineup that as a team is in the bottom third in most statistical categories across the league. An excellent matchup for Ginn as long as he’s careful pitching to Cleveland leader Jose Ramirez.

The Athletics’ lineup for the first game of this weekend series looks like this:

The team is surprisingly with catcher Shea Langeliers tonight, though he remains on baby watch as his wife should be due any minute now. If he leaves mid-game, now you know why.

He’ll be slotted between leadoff man Jacob Wilson and the big stick in Nick Kurtz, with Brent Rooker back in the lineup in his usual DH spot. This is more of the type of the top of the order that fans envisioned coming into the season.

Elsewhere in the A’s starting lineup Darell Hernaiz draws another start at the hot corner and also remains in the five-hole after his three-hit performance yesterday. The team also welcomes back left fielder Tyler Soderstrom after a two-game absence due to what the team called “whiplash”. Whatever it was it’s good to get his left-handed bat back in the order.

Colby Thomas remains in the lineup in right field, and Zack Gelof is in there as well but lining up in center field instead of second base, which will be handled by Jeff McNeil after his off day yesterday. One noticable name missing from the batting order this evening is Carlos Cortes, who finished the month of April with a .400 batting average. But with a southpaw on the opposing mound, tonight was as good as any to get the rookie outfielder a breather.

Speaking of lefties. That lineup will be facing Cleveland left-hander Joey Cantillo. The former 16th-round pick worked in both a starter’s role and a relief capacity last year to excellent results but has been a full-time member of the starting rotation this year. He’s taken well to his permanent transition to starting as he’ll bring a 2.97 ERA over six starts into tonight’s contest. This will be the first time that he’s ever faced the A’s so it’ll be a new experience for everyone on both sides of the ball in this one.

Cleveland’s starting nine shakes out like this:

The big name is obviously Ramirez, but we will also be getting our first close look at top prospect Travis Bazzana, who just got The Call to the big leagues a few days ago. If you’ll remember, the A’s had a big chance to get the first overall pick in the 2024 Draft but got stuck with the fourth overall pick instead. That pick? Your reigning AL ROTY Nick Kurtz. I’d say things worked out as well as hoped for the A’s, but now the first overall pick is in The Show and he’ll be facing Kurtz for the first time tonight. These two players’ futures will be compared to each other for a long, long time.

One hour to go until first pitch. Who’s ready for a Friday night win? Let’s go A’s!

Just an hour after Mariners GM Justin Hollander gave his weekly injury update saying the team hadn’t made a determination about a Matt Brash IL stint, the Mariners announced they have placed Brash on the 15-day IL with right lat inflammation.

The injury designation isn’t entirely a surprise, despite Hollander’s optimism regarding the injury itself – and sure, a lat is preferable to an oblique injury, something the Mariners have seen enough of already, and certainly preferable to a shoulder or elbow injury. It’s early in the season and the Mariners are being hyper-vigilant about protecting their setup man, who missed all of 2024 and time in 2025 rehabbing from Tommy John surgery.

The bigger surprise is in who the Mariners are replacing Brash with. Many suspected the Mariners would turn to RHP Yosver Zulueta, who they acquired this off-season from the Reds in a minor-league swap. Zulueta has big stuff, a traditional fastball-slider reliever who has already racked up 14 strikeouts in 10 games at Tacoma. He also has the attendant command issues that caused me to label him “Carlos Vargas 2.0” this spring. Still, Zulueta seemed like the next logical choice after the Mariners had already pulled on their depth at Tacoma, selecting both Cole Wilcox and Alex Hoppe, both of whom saw similar amounts of time with the big-league club this spring as Zulueta.

But the Mariners instead opted to recall lefty Josh Simpson, acquired from the Marlins for cash considerations this spring. Simpson has less-loud stuff but similar strikeout numbers in Tacoma: 12 Ks in 9.1 innings. He also has similar command issues to Zulueta, although coming from the left side this time. The difference between the two, other than handedness: Simpson has about ten more big-league games under his belt, and has spent more consecutive time in the bigs than Zulueta, whose experience is sprinkled across two seasons. Simpson also has some shinier ERA numbers than Zulueta, and the best WHIP among Tacoma’s remaining relievers.

Chicago White Sox (14-17) at San Diego Padres (19-11), May 1, 2026, 6:40 p.m. PST

Watch: Padres.TV

Location: Petco Park – San Diego, Calif.

Listen: 97.3 The Fan

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Mets lineup

Bo Bichette – 3B
Juan Soto – LF
MJ Melendez – DH
Francisco Alvarez – C
Brett Baty – 1B
Marcus Semien – 2B
Carson Benge – RF
Tyrone Taylor – CF
Ronny Mauricio – SS

SP: Christian Scott – RHP

Angels lineup

Zach Neto – SS
Mike Trout – CF
Yoan Moncada – 3B
Jorge Soler – DH
Nolan Schanuel – 1B
Jo Adell – RF
Josh Lowe – LF
Travis d’Arnaud – C
Adam Frazier – 2B

SP: Walbert Urena – RHP

Broadcast info

First pitch: 9:38 PM ET
TV: WPIX
Radio: Audacy Mets Radio WHSQ 880AM, Audacy App, 92.3 HD2

Mets manager Carlos Mendoza spoke ahead of Friday's series opener against the Angels to give updates on certain players...

Latest on Jorge Polanco

Entering the season, Polanco was pegged as the one who would start at first base most games, but that hasn't been the case for some time and now the team is waiting for his return after he went on the IL with a right wrist contusion back in mid-April.

Mendoza offered up some positive news on Polanco as he prepares to return. 

"Going to take batting practice today," Mendoza said. "Going to take some groundballs at him. That’s a good step now that he can get on the field and start that progression."

Polanco has only appeared in 14 games this season and is slashing .179/.246/.286 with an OPS of .532 to go along with his one home run. 

In his stead, the Mets have started Mark Vientos and Brett Baty at first base, and Jared Young before he landed on the IL. 

Andy Ibáñez and AJ Minter

Mendoza was asked about Ibáñez's role on the team after the team called him up to the big league club ahead of Friday's game -- the Mets optioned Eric Wagaman in the corresponding move.

"[Going to use him] Against lefties," Mendoza said of Ibáñez. "He’s done that throughout his career. Can play third base, go to short, second base if I want to give Marcus [Semien] a day. Come off the bench against lefties. He’s going to help us."

The Mets claimed Ibáñez off waivers from the Athletics this week and the right-hander has only appeared in 11 games this season, going 2-for-17 (.118) with three RBI.

In his six-year career, Ibáñez has a career batting average of .252 and an OPS of .688 across 431 games.

As for Minter, the southpaw pitched an inning for Triple-A Syracuse on Friday night. He allowed an unearned run on one hit in an otherwise clean inning. It's Minter's third appearance in Syracuse and seventh minor league outing overall as he continues his rehab from left lat surgery.

Mendoza said it's good news that he hadn't heard anything from the trainers after Minter's night ended. Minter's next step is to pitch Sunday to test if he can pitch two out of three days and then the Mets will decide what's next from there.

Juan Soto back in the outfield

Soto is starting Friday's game in left field, the first time the slugger has played the outfield since returning from the IL on April 22. Soto has been strictly a DH and Mendoza mapped out what the initial plan for his star is on this road trip.

"We’re not going to go back-to-back in the outfield," Mendoza said. "Workload and things like that ... going to go to Colorado. So maybe a game here, DH the next two, there’s a day game on Sunday. Just day-to-day. But the fact that he’s good to go now from the throwing perspective, he’s in there and we’ll continue to manage that."

Soto went on the IL for a calf strain, but has not played the field because of forearm soreness. Mendoza said that Soto is "good to go" on that front, but the Mets are taking it easy with Soto.

One reason for that is to keep Soto's bat in the lineup. Since he's returned from the lineup, all Soto has done is mash.

He's 9-for-27 since returning to the team, but he's 7-for-14 with two home runs, two doubles and three RBI over his past four games.

"Pretty locked in," Mendoza said of Soto's at-bats. "Talking to someone, when you see him driving the baseball the other way, the way he's been doing it as of late. Keeping balls fair, left field, left center, pulling the ball, staying up the middle, taking his walks. Pretty impressive. Doesn’t matter if it’s a lefty or a righty, he’s just locked in and that's why he's one of the best hitters in the game."

Mets manager Carlos Mendoza spoke with president of baseball operations David Stearns on the morning of Friday's game at the Los Angeles Angels, he said before the 9:38 p.m. series opener in Anaheim, Calif. Mendoza was asked about a report earlier Friday from MLB.com's Anthony DiComo, who cited an interview with Stearns in which Stearns said that the Mets "don't intend to make a change" at manager.

Mendoza did not go into details of the conversation during Friday's pregame media availability but said that he "understands the situation." The Mets enter a nine-game road trip -- starting with a three-game set at the 12-20 Angels -- with an MLB-worst 10-21 record.

"We all understand the situation," Mendoza said. "It's good to have that conversation with him. But at the end of the day, we have a job and we have a responsibility. Since Day 1, since I've been in this job, I feel the support from (owner) Steven (Cohen), Alex (Cohen) and David. I love working for them. We have a really good working relationship here. But it's about the results on the field as well.

"Steve is not happy. Alex is not happy. David is not happy. I'm not happy. All of us are frustrated. Together, we've got to find a way to get these guys out of this funk. And that's what we'll continue to do. I'm pretty confident in our coaches, our players, that this will turn."

Mendoza added that he and Stearns "have conversations all the time."

"I think it was just organically and it happened today," Mendoza said.

The Mets hired Stearns and Mendoza before the 2024 season. New York went 89-73 and reached the NLCS in 2024 before going 83-79 and missing the playoffs in 2025.

"Me and my family understand what comes with this job -- from the very beginning," said Mendoza, who was the Yankees' bench coach from 2018-23. "I'm grateful for the support that I have from my family, but look -- we understand it's a business. We just got to continue to show up and I've got to do my job, and that's to get the best out of these guys."

Stearns told DiComo that the Mets "don't view this as a manager problem," and Mendoza did not point out that sentiment when asked about it in his pregame media availability.

"We are all in this together," he said. "This is not a one specific area. We lose together. We win together. And that's how we will continue to do this. But I'm not going to sit here and say, 'Well, this is the reason why.' No. We're all responsible, and it starts with me."

The Mets started 7-4. They have lost 17 of their past 20 games.

"It's a professional clubhouse, right?" Mendoza said. "A lot of guys are established in this league, and they know the situation. So, they know where we're at as a team and they know that, together, we've got to go out and do it.

"So, pressure's especially in New York. When there's high expectations and you're not playing the way you're capable of, or you're not meeting those expectations, situations like this will come up. But, again, that's a lot of superstars there in that locker room that they understand. But the messaging is the same from them as well -- we're in this together."

Manager Aaron Boone acknowledged the Yankees had been “holding our breath” on the status of Jasson Domínguez, but they can seemingly exhale. 

After Domínguez was drilled in the left elbow Wednesday and initial X-rays were inconclusive, further imaging came back clean, Boone said. 

Domínguez was not in Friday’s starting lineup but Boone hoped he would be available off the bench. 

“He was much improved [Thursday], much improved today,” Boone said before the Yankees beat the Orioles 7-2 in the first game of a three-game series in The Bronx. “He’ll go through pregame today, do all his baseball activities and see where we’re at.” 

Domínguez left the series finale in Arlington in the fourth inning in just his third game of the season after being called up to replace the sidelined Giancarlo Stanton. Domínguez, who had been performing with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, went 1-for-9 before the hit-by-pitch knocked him from the game. 

The 23-year-old was only briefly in the clubhouse before Friday’s game, grabbing a glove and running to the field to get some work without showing any issues with his elbow. 

Without Domínguez, the Yankees started their usual outfield while Paul Goldschmidt played first base and Ben Rice DH’d against lefty Cade Povich. 

Stanton (right calf strain) may be able to start hitting again this weekend, Boone said. 

But the slugger has not yet begun running, and “there’s nothing imminent there,” Boone added. 

It is possible Carlos Rodón requires just one more minor league start before returning to the majors, Boone said. 

Rodón made his second rehab start Thursday, when he threw 76 pitches with Double-A Somerset. The lefty allowed one run on five hits with no walks and eight strikeouts in 5 ¹/₃ innings. 

“I thought he looked really good,” Boone said. “It’s encouraging, certainly, what we’re seeing. Feel like he’s about ready.” 

Rodón is set to pitch with SWB on Tuesday, the same day Gerrit Cole is set to pitch for High-A Hudson Valley. 

Boone on his friend and former bench coach Carlos Mendoza, whose job as Mets manager hung in doubt before receiving a vote of confidence Friday: 

“[The Mets are] going through a tough time, but I think Mendy’s great at what he does. “As much as you can be equipped to handle everything that’s going on with them, he certainly is. I know he’ll be fine.” 

Randal Grichuk, who was designated for assignment earlier this week, elected free agency rather than accepting an outright assignment to SWB. 

Veteran infielder Paul DeJong, who posted an .877 OPS in 23 games with SWB, opted out of his minor league deal and became a free agent.

After the off day, the Dodgers (20-11) start a six-game road trip Friday against the St. Louis Cardinals (18-13) at Busch Stadium.

Emmet Sheehan (2-0, 4.78 ERA, 40.3 GB%) is coming off one of the most dominant starts of his young career. It was a hard-luck loss for the Dodgers, but Sheehan struck out 10 over 6 ⅓ innings against the Cubs. 

Southpaw Matthew Liberatore (0-1, 4.75 ERA, 1.55 WHIP) takes the ball for the Cardinals. 

Lineups

Friday game info

• Teams: Dodgers at Cardinals
• Ballpark: Busch Stadium
• Time: 5:15 p.m. PT
• TV: SportsNet LA
• Radio: AM 570 (English), KTNQ 1020 AM (Spanish)

After a 4-2 homestand, the Atlanta Braves begin a nine-game road trip Friday night in Colorado at 8:40 p.m. EDT.

The Braves bring the best record in baseball (22-10) and a 6.5-game lead in the NL East into the road trip, which will conclude with series against the Seattle Mariners and Los Angeles Dodgers.

Follow along as Grant Holmes kicks off the road trip and begins the series which will end Sunday with Spencer Strider’s return.

Game Notes

Preview

Lineups

Just after Pete Alonso said that he found his start to the season to be “disappointing,” he let it rip in his first at-bat back in New York City on Friday night.

In the top of the second inning on a 1-1 pitch, Alonso launched a ball to 367 feet right field for a home run ito the second deck at Yankee Stadium.

As he rounded the bases, he faced a few boos from The Bronx crowd.

The run tied the game before the Yankees took a 5-1 lead in the bottom half.

It’s Alonso’s first time back in what used to be his home city since leaving Queens for a stable five-year, $155 million contract in Baltimore. 

It marks Alonso’s fifth home run in what has been a slow start to the season.

Heading into Friday, the ex-Met had 23 hits across 116 at-bats with four home runs and a .668 OPS through 31 games. 

A year ago, he had seven home runs with a 1.132 OPS in 31 games. 

“Every single day I feel dangerous in the box and every day I’m ready to do damage and compete,” Alonso added. “So, just need to keep preparing and putting myself in the best possible situation to succeed that night.”

Alonso likely hopes to build off of the first at-bat as he relishes a little homecoming.

The St. Louis Cardinals will play host to the allegedly formidable Los Angeles Dodgers, the best team money can buy. Matthew Liberatore will get the Friday night start for the Cardinals while Emmet Sheehan will start for the Dodgers. First pitch is set for 7:15pm central time at Busch Stadium.

Mariners GM Justin Hollander met with the media ahead of this week’s homestand to provide updates on injured Mariners. Obviously, the question at top of mind for most Mariners fans is what the latest is on reliever Matt Brash, who had to leave Wednesday’s game with an apparent injury to his side. Brash had an MRI which revealed inflammation in his lat, which is significantly more optimistic than the oblique injury many feared when he left the game. Hollander says there are no signs of anything serious or structurally damaged, just trace inflammation. The team has opted to put Brash on the 15-day IL, calling up lefty Josh Simpson to take Brash’s place.

Despite the disappointing injury designation, Hollander called the results of Brash’s MRI “very good news all around, probably the best news we could have possibly hoped for.”

One other note relevant to tonight’s game: despite the Royals putting a lefty on the hill, OF Rob Refsnyder is not in the starting lineup. Manager Dan Wilson said Ref is “nursing a couple of different little things” and that he’s fine, but day-to-day.

Other injury updates:

• INF Brendan Donovan (groin) – Donovan will travel to Arkansas on Monday to play with the Travelers when they start a home series this week. He’ll play Tuesday and Wednesday with Arkansas, and then if all goes well, will join the team in Chicago ahead of the series against the White Sox next Friday. Hollander said the team will look into doing some load management strategies – DH days or the occasional off-day – to help Donovan as he continues to work back from the sports hernia surgery he had last year.
• OF Victor Robles (shoulder) – Robles will head out on a rehab assignment on Sunday and the team will assess weekly how he’s doing. The soonest he would return would maybe be the start of the Houston series on this upcoming road trip, but the team will assess after he finishes his first week of rehab assignments. Hollander said the last hurdle Robles needs to clear is making the long throw home from the outfield, but overall the team is happy with how he’s progressing.
• INF Patrick Wisdom (oblique) – Wisdom will begin a short rehab assignment this weekend in Tacoma.
• RHP Carlos Vargas (lat) – Vargas has hit a “mild setback” in his rehab process, feeling some pain in his strained lat in the early stages of his ramp up back to throwing. He’ll take some time off and then will start the ramp-up progression from the beginning. Lat strains: almost as not-fun as oblique strains.
• RHP Bryce Miller (oblique) – Ending on a positive note. Miller continues to charge through the rehab process with no setbacks. His next outing will be in Everett on May 6th, narrowly missing the opportunity to see Miller in the Everett Star Wars jerseys, with a goal of 65-70 pitches and hopefully five innings, and the team will decide whether he needs another start after that or not.